So much of that answer we don’t know, but one thing we DO know is that, by November 16, 2017, all Rural Health Clinic (RHCs) must be in full compliance with new emergency preparedness guidelines published in the Federal Register September 16, 2016.

If you have not yet started to prepare, we recommend that you start now.

To help you move through this process, The Compliance Team has simplified what you need to do to prepare for the November deadline.

The following first level outline is a combination of the emergency preparedness requirements presently required, as well as what is required by November.

To read the entire document, download the PDF that explains in detail what you need to do to be prepared for November 2017. Print this out and you can use it as a guide to work through the requirements.

The clinic must have an emergency preparedness program that addresses an emergency on-site, off-site (natural disaster) and disruption of service. This program must comply with all applicable Federal, State and local emergency preparedness requirements.

The clinic must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness plan that is reviewed and updated annually.

The clinic must develop and implement emergency preparedness policies and procedures that are based on its emergency preparedness plan, risk assessment, and communication plan.

The clinic develops and maintains an emergency communication plan that complies with Federal, State and Local laws.

The clinic develops and maintains an emergency preparedness training and testing program that is based on the emergency preparedness plan, risk assessment, policies and procedures and the communication plan.

If a clinic that is part of a healthcare system consisting of multiple separately certified healthcare facilities elects to have a unified and integrated emergency preparedness program, the clinic may choose to participate in the healthcare system’s coordinated emergency preparedness program.